How Jews Built Hollywood: Al Jolson and The Jazz Singer

Jewish History Nerds is a finalist for a Signal Award in the history category. If you enjoy this show, please comment wherever you get your podcasts. We'll be back soon with a brand new season.

Al Jolson was the biggest star in America, a Jewish immigrant who left the synagogue behind to conquer Broadway and Hollywood. Jonathan Schwab guides Yael Steiner through his journey from cantor's son to star of The Jazz Singer, the 1927 film that made synchronized sound a sensation and told a deeply Jewish story to all of America. Trading film history along the way, Yael and Schwab unpack assimilation, blackface, race, and how Jewish immigrants didn't just work in Hollywood, they built it.

Don't miss Part 2 in this series: Why Did Sammy Davis Become Jewish?

Check out: How a Plate of Shrimp Changed American Judaism

Here's the first episode in the America's Series ⁠⁠The First Jews in the Americas: Fleeing the Inquisition⁠⁠, the episode submitted to the Signal Awards for consideration.

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Credit: The Jazz Singer Singer Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures Release date October 6, 1927.

Clip from The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson:

https://youtu.be/mTufuWn3jv8?si=PE35erbhfZsqnqAH

Why Did Negroes Love Al Jolson and The Jazz Singer?: Melodrama, Blackface and Cosmopolitan Theatrical Culture by Charles Musser ⁠

⁠⁠Blackface, White NoiseJewish Immigrants in the Hollywood Melting Pot by Michael Rogin⁠

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